Wheels Up

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Synopsis

Their love is forbidden, but their hearts aren’t listening to rules and regulations…

Lieutenant Dustin Strauss is a reformed man. No longer a twentysomething hell-raiser, he’s his SEAL team’s new XO—and a man with a secret. Or seven. He’s kept his bisexual identity under wraps for years, along with his kinky side and a fondness for the military-themed semianonymous hookup website Joe4Joe. His latest chat buddy is more than a sexy online distraction—they’re taking their very not-safe-for-work relationship into real time.

Petty Officer Wes Lowe has a smart mouth, a take-charge attitude and an uncanny ability for making things go boom. The life of an enlisted man isn’t always enough to satisfy him, but one wild, no-questions-asked weekend with his online love comes close. When a transfer order comes in, Wes feels ready and centered. He’ll make a good impression on his new SEAL team and keep his growing feelings for Dustin on the down low.

But as they log more time online and some very real emotions surface, Dustin and Wes struggle to pretend they’re just a harmless fling. And when his commander introduces Dustin to his team’s newest member, they’re in for the shock of a lifetime…and a crushing disappointment: their difference in ranks means even a friendship without sexual contact could end their navy careers for good.

With their hearts on the line, Dustin and Wes may not survive their next mission, let alone find a way toward a future together.

This book is approximately 77,000 words

One-click with confidence. This title is part of theCarina Press Romance Promise*: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!*

A great addition to the Out of Uniform series.

Annabeth Albert's Out of Uniform series is turning out to be one of my favorites by her. Wheels Up is about Dustin Strauss (older brother of Dylan from At Attention) and Wes Lowe. Dustin is an officer and Wes an enlisted man. They meet using a hook-up app and then once in person figuring that they'd never see each other again except when chatting online. Imagine their shock when Wes turns out to be the new person on Dustin's SEAL team. Fraternization between officers and enlisted men is totally forbidden.
This is sort of a coming-out story. Thirty-two-year-old Dustin just now coming to terms with his bi-sexuality. Since his brother came out as gay Dustin has felt a lot of pressure from his father to settle down with a nice girl and carry on the family name; he doesn't know how to tell him he's interested in a man.
Wes is gay and out to his close friends. He is transferred away from his family just when they need him most. His sister is sick and he hates that he can't be there to provide support for his mom and dad. He misses the comradery he had with his former SEAL team.
Wheels Up has some mild kink elements. Dustin likes a little pain and he likes to submit (not that he'd ever admit that to anyone but Wes). Wes loves to give Dustin what he wants and needs; these two are made for each other.
I didn't have as much of an emotional reaction to this book as I've had with most of Annabeth's but the story was great anyway. In fact, once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. That will teach me to start one of her books in the late evening. I stayed up to 5 a.m. reading Wheels Up. Thank goodness I'm retired. 😊
I felt the deep connection between these two guys; their need for each other really made my heart ache when it seemed like they would have to sacrifice their relationship. I know that Annabeth Albert always delivers an HEA, though, so I was never really worried.
I am so happy that there will be several more stories in this series. I love hot guys in uniform!
BTW - each book in this series can easily be read as a standalone story.
A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions***

by ButtonsMom2003on November 06, 2017

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Albert's SEALs are getting hotter and hotter!

✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ FOUR - STAR ✩ REVIEW ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩
> > Judging a Book by it's Cover < <
This series' covers are just getting hotter and hotter! Holy Cow! This synopsis sounds great and promises to be another sweet yet hot read! Can't wait!
> > Looking Deeper < <
POV ~> Third-person.
It's not only the covers that are getting hotter.
The chemistry between Dustin and Wes was electric, magnetic, and molten! They started out as cross-country cyber chat friends that graduated to adding a bit of cybersex into the "relationship". Then Dustin was called to the east coast for meetings and Wes made the trip northward to coax a face-to-face meeting into their mix. Both assumed the others' branch, rank, or station but neither required validation for various reasons. It's not until Wes was transferred to the west coast that they surprising learned they were both SEALs and Dustin was now Wes's Commanding Officer.
There are rules against them associating, even as friends.
Both were already too deep into their attractions, needs, and emotions with each other to be able to deny the pull, so what were they going to do? Add to the complications Wes's ailing sister and the fact that nobody knew Dustin was bisexual.
The cast was well-rounded with a good variety of characters. Dialogue is smart and strong. Interactions were believable, for the most part. The conflict was realistic, the resolution was predictable. But the lead-up was well plotted out. The conclusion was solid enough with an implied HEA that felt a little loose, but I am hoping that only means we'll see more of them in any following books, or even possibly, a spin-off series.
I adore this series and Annabeth Albert's SEALs are getting hotter and hotter as the series progresses. This book can stand alone, but a few of the secondary cast were the featured couple of previous books. One may better enjoy the story and its cast if the books are read in order but it is not necessary.
.
Rating: [R] ~ Score: 4.25 ~ Stars: 4
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⭐ ⭐ **** Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review - nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". ***** ⭐ ⭐

by HEChapter ..on November 07, 2017

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Wonderfuly written

One of the best lgbtq stories I've read in a lomg time. Te characters are vivid, and believable. It is a very sexy and engaging story, impossible to put down.